Automobile heater



y 1940- w. KARSEL Re. 21,515

AUTOMOBILE HEATER Original Filed March 13, 1935 Jrwerzfi:

Viaaacl Reissuecl July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlC Warner Corporation, tion of Virginia Chicago, 11]., a corpora- Ol'iginal No. 2,010,920, dated August 13, 1935, Se-

rial No. 10,896, March 13, 1935.

reissue November 21,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to heaters particularly intended for use in heating the driver's or passenger compartments of motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, buses, motor cars, or the like, such as are driven with internal combustion engines.

Various types of heaters have heretofore been developed for such purposes, some utilizing the cooling fluid of. the engine for the heater radiators, others utilizing steam, and still others utilizing the exhaust gases, but all of such devices have been found more or less objectionable, for reasons which are known to those familiar with this art. In order to avoid the objectionable features of such prior heaters my improved heater is supplied with heat from a source substantially independent of the heat of the engine. In accordance with this invention heat is provided by means of a stove oicombustion chamber which is preferably supplied with fuel from the vehicle supply. Means are also provided for forcing or blowing air over such stove or combustion chamber in order to abstract theheat and distribute the same throughout the body of the vehicle. 25 The principal object of this invention is to provide a new type of automobile heater which will be simple in construction and particularly eflective and durable in operation.

Other objects are to provide an automobile heater having a combustion chamber and having means coacting with the vehicle engine for supplying or controlling the supply of. fuel to said combustion chamber; to provide novel means for igniting the mixture in the combustion chamber and keeping the same ignited; to provide a stove or combustion chamber with suitable connections so that there is little or no possibility of gases of combustion entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle therefrom; to provide 0 an automobile heater having a closed combustion chamber with afuel inlet and a gas outlet meeting with the engine of the automobile to supply fuel thereto and withdraw thegases therefrom; to provide a heater of. the character indicated having a relatively small stove for burning gasoline or the like, with a spark plug for igniting the mixture and having means for blowing air thereover and means for directing the air in various directions.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional side view showing the heater as mounted in an automobile;

Application for 1936, Serial No. 112,098'

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a. wiring diagram for the fan motor and ignition circuits.

The heater has a combustion chamber or stove including a cylinder or receptacle 5 which is preferably closed at one end and provided with a threaded lug or projection 6 which is engaged by an elbow or connection 1 for connecting the same with an intake pipe 8. This pipe leads to a jet or gas mixer 9 which may be of any suitable type, for mixing the gasoline or fuel with air to make a combustible mixture. The mixer is preferably provided with a controlling valve ill for regulating the amount of gas or fuel supplied thereto. A fuel pipe ll leads from the jet or mixer 9 to a source of supply of fuel and preferably to the carburetor of the vehicle engine which, however, is omitted as the particular con struction thereof forms no part of the present invention.

The lower end of the cylinder or receptacle 5 is threaded to receive a cap or cover l2 which has a threaded inwardly projecting flange or cylindrical portion I! which terminates in an upwardly extending conical portion H as shown in Figure 1. One or more holes or outlet orifices l5 are provided in the conical portion and preferably at the lower extremity thereof.

The cap or cover I! has a threaded opening l6 for receiving an elbow or connection I? which is connected with an outlet or exhaust pipe I8 which leads to the intake manifold of the engine whereby it will be subjected to the vacuum or suction created by the engine. The cylinder or receptacle 5 is preferably provided with a plurality of radially arranged fins I9 which may conveniently be cast integrally therewith for effectively causing heat exchange with the air passing over the stove or combustion chamber. A sight or observation tube of any suitable character having a transparent eye piece is connected with the combustion chamber for convenience in noting whether combustion is taking place therein and also the nature of such combustion.

The stfve or combustion chamber is mounted in a cas ng or housing 2| which is preferably cylindrical and of slightly greater diameter than the outer diameter of the fins.

The heater may be mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle in any desired manner or location but is shown as being positioned on the inner side of the dash 22. The heater is supported by means of the inlet pipe 8 and outlet pipe ll. Spacing tubes 23 and 24 are placed and which engage with threaded portions of the tubes I and ll and with the outer surface of the dash 22 so that the housing 2| and the parts associated therewith are all securely held in position on the dash.

The upper end of the housing 2| has a cap or cover 29 which engages frlctionally therewith, or may be otherwise secured thereto, this cap having holes II to permit air to pass therethrough. It also furnishes a base or support for the fan motor 8| which is mounted thereon as shown. The shaft 32 of the motor extends downwardly into the housing and is provided with a fan or impeller 33. The lower end of the housing II has a similar cap or closure 34 with an outlet opening or openings as indicated at I! and deflectors 36 are mounted on this cap for deflecting the air passing through the housing, these deflectors being preferably adjustable as indicated, and of any suitable type for the purposes intended. It will also be noted that the lid or cap 34 may be rotated in order to deflect the air in different directions as desired.

While the combustible mixture in the combustion chamber may be ignited by any suitable means, I prefer to use a spark plug 31 which is mounted in the upper end of the receptacle 5.

The electric current to the plug is also preferably controlled by means actuated by the fan motor as will be seen from the wiring diagram and parts shown diagrammatically in Figure 3. Current is supplied to the motor from a battery or other suitable source of electric supply II, one terminal of which may be grounded at II. A wire .0 leads from the battery to a switch 4|, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire I! with one terminal of the motor ii, the oppoflte terminal being grounded at 43. It will be seen from this circuit that closing and opening the switch II will start and stop the motor 3|. A circuit breaker or switch N is arranged to be actuated as by a cam 45 on the motor shaft 32, the arrangement being such that the switch is preferably opened and closed once for each revolution of the motor. A wire 40 leads from the wire 41 to one contact I! of the circuit breaker, and a wire II leads from the other contact of the circuit breaker to one terminal 49 of a high tension coil ill, the other terminal of this coil being grounded at 5|. A high tension wire 52 leads from the coil to the spark plug 31, the other terminal of the plug being grounded as shown at 53.

By means of this electrical arrangement it will be seen that when the switch II is closed to start the fan motor ii to force air through the heater, a circuit will also be closed from the battery through the circuit breaker actuated by the motor and the high tension coil so that the circuit through the coil will be continuously interrupted m enter the pipeandbe. tothegas mixer-,9. Whentheeng'ineisru'rming'thevamum or reducedpressure in the intake manifold causes viding current to the spark plug 31 which will ignite the mixture in the chamber. The combustion in the chamber. or the nature of the combustion therein, may be observed through the sight or inspection tube 20 and by adjusting the adjusting screw it of the mixer the desired combustion may be obtained. The gases of combustion are drawn out through the openings II into the pipe is and from thence to the intake manifold where they may pass along into the engine and if the combustion has not been complete any combustible gases will pass into the engine for further combustion. As long as the engine of the vehicle is being operated the gases will continue to be drawn into the combustion chamber and burned in the manner ndcated. when the en-- gine is stopped the combustion will also cease but the parts may be left in operative position so that combustion may again take place as soon as the engine is started. If the fuel is not ignited in the combustion chamber there will be no loss as it will pass along into the intake manifold of the engine. The air driven over the combustion chamber and the fins projecting therefrom, will be quickly heated and will pass out through the bottom of the heater and may be deflected in any direction, as described.

From this description it will be seen that I provide a heater in which the heat may be quickly generated and the heat supply readily controlled regardless of the heat of the vehicle engine. Furthermore the parts within the vehicle body are all closed so that there is little or no possibility of gases of combustion being discharged into the passenger compartment of the vehicle body so that my improved heater is also particularly safe as well as emcient.

While I have shown and described a practical embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that modifications may be made in order to adapt the same to different vehicles or different conditions, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction or arrangement herein shown and described, except as specified in the following claims, in which I claim:

1. In an automobile heater, the combination of a combustion chamber, an inlet pipe connected with the top of said chamber, a mixer for fuel and air connected with the inlet pipe, a fuel supply pipe leading from the mixer to the fuel supply of the automobile, a baflie arranged adjacent to the bottom of said chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the bottom of the chamber and connected with the intake manifold of the automobile, a housing enclosing said combustion chamber, a motor driven fan for forcing air through the housing and around the combustion chamber, a spark plug operatively mounted in said chamber, a source of supply of electricity, a circuit including said source and said motor, a switch in said circuit, a circuit breaker operated by said motor, an ignition coil, a circuit from said source of supply through said circuit breaker and the ignition coil, and a connection from said ignition coil to the spark plug for supplying current thereto.

2. The combination with an automobile having a closed body and a dash and having an internal combustion engine, of a cylinder having outwardly projecting fins and closed at the top, a pipe leading from the top of the cylinder through the dash and secured to said dash, a generator valve connected with said pipe, a fuel supply pipe leading from the generator valve to the carburetor of the engine, a head 'detachably secured to the opposite end of the cylinder, a substantially conical baille projecting upwardly from said head and having outlet passageways therethrough, an outlet pipe leading from the head through said dash and connected to the intake manifold of the engine, means for securing the outlet pipe to the dash, a housing enclosing said cylinder, a cap for one end of said housing having openings therethrough, a motor driven fan mounted on said cap with its fan within the housing, a rotatable cap for the opposite end of the housing having outlet passageways therethrough, adjustable deflectors for said outlet passageways, a spark plug operatively mounted in said cylinder for igniting the mixture therein, means for supplying electricity to said motor, means for supplying electricity to the spark plug, and means actuated by the motor for controlling the supply of electricity to the spark plug.

3. In a motor vehicle having a closed body, the combination of a combustion chamber positioned within the body, pipes from said combustion chamber leading through adjacent portions of.

the body, means coacting with said pipes for holding the chamber in fixed position in the body, means including one of said pipes for conducting fuel from the fuel supply of the vehicle to said chamber, means for igniting the fuel in said chamber, means including the other pipe for conducting the gases of combustion from the chamber to the intake manifold of the engine, and means for blowing air over said chamber.

4. The combination with a vehicle dashboard, of a substantially closed box providing a combustion chamber, inlet and outlet pipes leading from said box through said dashboard, spacers for holding the box in spaced relation to the dashboard, nuts on said pipes engaging with the board to draw the box toward the same, a connection with one of the pipes to the fuel supply for the vehicle engine, a connection from the other pipe to the intake of the engine, means for igniting a combustible mixture in said box, and a fan for blowing air over said box.

5. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a heater element including a combustion chamber, a sight opening into said chamber, means for supplying fuel to said cham ber, means for withdrawing gases of combustion from said chamber, a spark plug operatively connected with the chamber, a motor driven fan for blowing air across said chamber, and means actuated by the fan for controlling the current to said plug.

6. In a motor vehicle having a closed passenger compartment, an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine in said engine cornpartment, and a fuel supply for said engine; a heater comprising, a combustion chamber separate from said engine, a carbureting mixing device connected to said fuel supply to receive fuel therefrom, means for conducting the fuel mixture from said carbureting device to said combustion chamber, electrical means to ignite the fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, heat radiating means located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and deriving heat from the gases of combustion, and a conduit connected between said combustion chamber and the intake manifold of the engine to withdraw the gases ofcombustion from said chamber.

7. In a motor vehicle having a closed passenger compartment, an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine, and a fuel supply for said engine; a heater comprising, a combustion chamber separate from said engine, a carbureting device connected to said fuel supply to receive fuel therefrom and mix it with air to form a combustible mixture, means for conducting the fuel mixture from said carbureting device to said combustion chamber, electrical means to ignite the fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, heat radiating means located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and deriving heat from the gases of combustion, a conduit connecting said combustion chamber with the intake manifold of the engine to withdraw the gases of combustion from said chamber, and a power operated fan for circulating air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle past said heat radiating means thereby to heat the air in the passenger compartment.

8. In a heater for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment and an internal combustion engine, the combination of a source of liquid fuel, a carbureting device connected to receive fuel from said source, a combustion chamber separate from said engine, electrical means to ignite the fuel in said combustion chamber, means to transmit heat from the products of combustion to the air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and means to draw liquid fuel and air into said combustion chamber from said carbureting device, said last named means including a passageway connecting said combustion chamber with the intake manifold of the engine, whereby, when said engine is operating, combustion in said chamber may be maintained and the products of combustion drawn into the intake manifold.

9. In a motor vehicle having a closed passenger com artment, an en ine compartment, an internal combustion engine, and a fuel supply for said engine; a heater comprising, a combustion chamber separate from said engine, a carbureting device connected to said fuel supply to receive fuel therefrom and mix it with air to form a combustible mixture, means for conducting the fuel mixture from said carbureting device to said combustion chamber, electrical means toignite the fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, heat radiating means located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and deriving heat from the gases of combustion, a conduit connecting said combustion chamber with the intake manifold of the engine to withdraw the gases of combustion from said chamber, a motor operated fan for circulating air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle past said heat radiating means thereby to heat the air in the passenger compartment, and manually operable switch means for controlling the supply of current to said fan motor and to said igniter means.

10. In a heater for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment and driven by an internal combustion engine, the combination of a fuel supply for said engine, a carburetlng device connected to receive fuel from said fuel sup- Y ply and. to receive air from the atmosphere and to mix said fuel and air to form a combustible .mixture, a combustion chamber separate from said engine receiving said combustible mixture, electrical means to ignite the mixture in said chamber, means including a passageway connecting said combustion chamber with the intake manifold of the engine for reducing the pressure in said combustion chamber to cause the combustible mixture to flow thereinto from said carbureting device and to withdraw the products of combustion from said chamber, a heat exchange device receiving heat from the products of combustion formed in said chamber, and means for causing rapid transfer of heat from said heat exchange device to the air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

11. In a heater for an automotive vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, a source of liquid fuel, a combustion chamber separate from said engine, means for supplying a mixture of fuel from said source and atmospheric air to said combustion chamber, electrical means for igniting the fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, heat transfer means receiving heat from the gases of combustion, means connecting the intake manifold of the engine with said combustion chamber to cause the pressure in the latter to drop below atmospheric pressure, and manually operable valve means for controlling the flow of fuel from said fuel supply to said combustion chamber.

12. In a motor vehicle having a closed passenger compartment, an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine, and a fuel supply for said engine; a heater comprising, a combustion chamber separate from said engine, means connected to said fuel supply to receive fuel therefrom and mix it with air to form a combustible mixture, electrical means to ignite the fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, heat exchange means deriving heat from the gases of combustion, conduit means connecting the combustion chamber to the intake manifold of the engine to withdraw the gases of combustion from said combustion chamber, and a power operated fan for circulating air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle past said heat.

exchange means thereby to heat the air in-tiie passenger compartment. 13. In a motor vehicle having a closed passenger compartment, an engine compartment an internal combustion engine in said engine compartment, and a fuel supply for said internal combustion engine; a heater comprising in combination a combustion chamber separate from said internal combustion engine, carbureting means for supplying a combustible mixture to said combustion chamber, means connecting said carbureting means to said fuel supply whereby said carbureting means receives its fuel from said supply, electrical means to ignite the fuel mixture in said combustion chamber, heat exchange means deriving heat from the gases of combustion, means providing a passageway for air circulating over said heat exchange means, said combustion chamber having an outlet, suction transmitting means communicating with said combustion chamber and effective to draw fuel and air into said combustion chamber from said carbureting means in combustible quantities, and a power operated fan for circulating air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle through said passageway, whereby to heat the air in the passenger compartment.

14. In a motor vehicle having an engine and a closed passenger compartment, and a source of fuel for said engine, means for heating air in said passenger compartment comprising, a combustion chamber having an inlet and an outlet, means connected between said source of fuel and the inlet of said combustion chamber for producing a combustible mixture of fuel and air, means for creating a partial vacuum at the outlet of said combustion chamber to draw the fuel mixture into said combustion chamber, electrical means for igniting the fuel supplied to said combustion chamber, heat exchange means deriving heat from the gases .of combustion produced in said combustion chamber, a motor, means driven by said motor for circulating air from said passenger compartment past said heat exchange means, a source of electrical energy, and switch means for connecting said electrical energy source to said motor and to said igniting means.

WILLIAM KARSEL. 

